Wiertz Sebastien - Privacy by Sebastien Wiertz (CC BY 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/ahk6nh

Privacy

Privacy Commissioner Should Disclose the Identities of Privacy â€œLeakersâ€

Last week, Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart released the results of a disturbing new study conducted by her office that found many leading websites “leaking” personal information. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the study, which came on the heels of similar findings by researchers in the United States, found that one in every four websites examined suffered from privacy leaks that included disclosing names, email addresses, postal codes, and location data to third party advertisers (in the interests of full disclosure, I am a member of the Stoddart’s external advisory board).

The study only covered 25 of the most popular e-commerce and media websites in Canada, suggesting that many more organizations may be violating Canadian privacy law by failing to adequately safeguard the personal information they collect and providing users with insufficient information about how their data is used and disclosed.

October 3, 2012 — 8 comments — Columns

Privacy Commissioner Should Name “Leaky” Websites

Appeared in the Toronto Star on September 30, 2012 as Privacy Commissioner Should Name Leaky Websites Last week, Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart released the results of a disturbing new study conducted by her office that found many leading websites “leaking” personal information. The study, which came on the […]

October 3, 2012 — 1 comment — Columns Archive

The Nexus of Copyright and Intellectual Privacy

Alex Cameron, a lawyer with Faskens, recently obtained his doctorate in law from the University of Ottawa (I served on the examination panel at his defence). He has posted his important thesis examining the nexus between copyright and intellectual privacy, which is available here.

September 20, 2012 — 1 comment — News

Privacy Commissioner of Canada Launches Online Complaint Form

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has launched a new online complaint form that will allow Canadians to file privacy complaints via the Internet.

August 24, 2012 — 3 comments — News

Prime Minister’s Privacy Policy Requires a Re-Write

As public concern over Internet privacy has grown in recent years, one of the first responses is invariably to focus on the need for improved disclosure through easily accessible website privacy policies. The policies provide information on how personal information is collected, used, and disclosed to third parties.

While few visitors read the policies from start to finish, it is important for websites to ensure that they are accurate, since misleading statements can lead to liability. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the need for accuracy is particularly true if you’re say, the Prime Minister of Canada. Yet a reader recently noticed that the Prime Minister’s Office website may be incorrectly stating its use of cookies, which are small files that may be placed on user’s computer hard drive by a website to monitor usage or identify repeat visitors.

July 31, 2012 — 11 comments — Columns